If the current through an inductor is doubled from 2 A to 4 A while L remains 0.5 H, by what factor does the stored energy change?

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Multiple Choice

If the current through an inductor is doubled from 2 A to 4 A while L remains 0.5 H, by what factor does the stored energy change?

Explanation:
Energy stored in an inductor is W = (1/2) L I^2. With L fixed at 0.5 H, the energy scales with the square of the current. Doubling the current from 2 A to 4 A makes I^2 go from 4 to 16, a factor of 4. The initial energy is (1/2)(0.5)(2^2) = 1 J, and the final energy is (1/2)(0.5)(4^2) = 4 J. So the stored energy increases by a factor of four, i.e., it quadruples.

Energy stored in an inductor is W = (1/2) L I^2. With L fixed at 0.5 H, the energy scales with the square of the current. Doubling the current from 2 A to 4 A makes I^2 go from 4 to 16, a factor of 4. The initial energy is (1/2)(0.5)(2^2) = 1 J, and the final energy is (1/2)(0.5)(4^2) = 4 J. So the stored energy increases by a factor of four, i.e., it quadruples.

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